Johnny Ball believes the BBC will 'mess up' the Play School reboot
Johnny Ball was a presenter on Play School, which aired on the BBC from April 1964 until September 1988.
Johnny Ball thinks the BBC will "mess up" the Play School reboot, despite being approached to be its adviser.
Last month, the corporation announced that the children's TV show, originally launched in April 1964 to help "recreate nursery and playgroup experiences at home", is returning almost 40 years after its final episode aired in September 1988.
But Johnny, 88, who appeared on the programme, on and off, from 1967 until 1987, and co-hosted alongside the likes of Baroness Floella Benjamin, now 77, and the late Brian Cant, believes its revival will flop.
He told the Daily Mail: "They say they are going to bring it back from April (next year). But I think they are going to mess it up.
"The late producer was Cynthia Felgate, and she was the most wonderful person, and she was my boss for about 16 years, and there was nobody better. And she made that show so strong.
'You have got 17 countries around the world that made Play School, and if they changed it, she would go, 'Bang! No you don't. Keep to this. Don't do any other way.'
"And that is why it lasted so long."
Johnny declared the BBC's move to ditch children's shows in the afternoon for antique, garden and international house-hunting programmes a "tragedy".
He added: "So today, kids who are seven and eight, they don't even know the channels, and if the kids don't know them then they don't watch children's television.
"So last year, Blue Peter went out and recorded zero viewers, which is so shocking."
Johnny then made a surprise revelation about the Play School reboot.
The entertainer said: "But the major firm that is pitching for Play School has come to me and said, 'Would you be an adviser?'"
Meanwhile, the Strictly Come Dancing 2012 contestant accused the BBC of ageism over axing older celebrities for younger stars, including his daughter Zoe Ball, who departed Radio 2 last December.
Promoting his autobiography, Stories That Must Be Told!, at The Dorchester Literary Festival on October 21, Johnny told the audience: "I did Play School for 17 years, I wrote nearly all of Play Away then I did Think of a Number and Think Again.
"I loved every minute of it. But what happens when you are 50 at the BBC? Gone! Zoe was 54. Gone! You cannot believe it because we gave so much to the BBC."
The BBC wants to bring back Play School for a new generation.
Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children's and Education, said: "Play School has always embodied so much of what CBeebies stands for: creativity, curiosity, imagination and learning through play.
"Bringing it back for a new generation is a meaningful opportunity to build on that legacy, while continuing to support parents and carers through CBeebies Parenting and the wider commitment set out in our Parenting Promise."
The BBC is now accepting pitches as it looks to commission a new series made up of 50 episodes of 14 minutes each, plus "70 minutes of additional content for CBeebies Parenting, a new YouTube channel supporting parents and carers".
Ideally, pre-production will start in February 2027, with half the episodes airing in 2027/28 and the rest in 2028/29.
The BBC said: "We’re open to new and modern takes on the classic programme and we’re looking for creative visions about how the series can retain the much-loved elements whilst evolving to meet the needs of the audience today and a shorter episode duration."
They want the new Play School to maintain the "warm and inviting tone and the way in which the presenters spoke directly to viewers".
Proposals should also feature suggestions for presenters across different backgrounds and interests.
The BBC continued: "The toys – Humpty, Jemima, Big Ted, Little Ted and Hamble, later replaced by Poppy - remain some of the most cherished elements of Play School and are fondly remembered by generations of viewers.
"We would like the new version of the programme to bring to life a version of the toys in a contemporary capacity aligned to the expectations of today’s children."
This could include new characters, or even presenting the original characters as animation.
Meanwhile, proposals are also free to make suggestions for features to retain or replace as part of the shortened format.
CBeebies has launched its Parenting Promise, which supports "parents and carers to help every child in the UK learn, grow and thrive through trusted, joyful and high-quality experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence and make learning through play part of everyday life".
